Feb. 17, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Fresh off the plane, the No. 8 Missouri softball team opened up their 2011 season with a 9-1 win over No. 22 San Diego State, run-ruling the Aztecs in five innings in their season opener.

No. 8 Mizzou 9, No. 22 San Diego State 1 (5) Box Score

Time: 1:33 Att.: 233

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	F
MIZZOU	0	0	0	4	5	X	X	9
SDSU	0	0	0	1	0	X	X	1

 

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Nottelmann (1-0)	5.0	4	1	1	2	1
L - Beasley (1-1)	4.0	7	7	6	1	7

Hitting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
MU - Fleming	3	2	2	2	0	1
MU - Marston	3	2	2	3	0	1

Junior Kristin Nottelmann got the win, throwing all five innings while allowing just one run on four hits.  Offensively, the Tigers got home runs from junior Ashley Fleming and sophomores Nicole Hudson and Jenna Marston.  Marston finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, while Fleming went 2-for-3 with two runs and two batted in.

The Aztecs got the first big chance of the day in their half of the second, getting back-to-back singles to put two on with no one out.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third, Nottelmann worked out of the jam by getting a groundout to shortstop, with sophomore Jenna Marston throwing the runner out at home for the second out.  On the following play, Marston snagged a hot smash up the middle and stepped on second to end the frame.

Hitless through the first three innings, the Tigers put together a four-run rally to kick off the fourth inning.  Leading off the frame, Marston roped a double to right-center field, and Ashley Fleming followed with a two-run blast to left-center field for her first run of the season.  Two batters later, Nicole Hudson hit a home run of her own in almost the exact same spot as Fleming's, extending the Tiger lead to 3-0.  Senior Marla Schweisberger legged out an infield single, and with two outs, advanced to third when Princess Krebs reached on a throwing error by the pitcher.  Krebs attempted to steal second a few pitches later, and got herself in a rundown to allow Schweisberger to touch home before Krebs was tagged out.

San Diego State pushed across a run in their half of the second, getting a two-out single up the middle to cut the Tiger lead to 4-1.

Missouri wasted no time getting that run - and more - back in the fifth, as they batted around and put up a five spot.  After Abby Vock and Rhea Taylor started the inning with back-to-back singles, Marston blasted the Tigers' third home run of the day, hitting a three-run shot to dead center field to extend the lead to 7-1.  After a pitching change, Fleming singled to left, with Catherine Lee following with her first career triple, plating Fleming on the play.  Lee would touch home on a groundout by Hudson, making the Tiger lead 9-1.

Nottelmann would finish things off the bottom of the fifth, giving up only a two out single for her first win of the season.

Missouri returns to action tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. CT against Fresno State.  Stay tuned to mutigers.com for any possible schedule changes.